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Our vision, mission and values

Royal Voluntary Service is one of Britain’s largest volunteering charities with volunteers supporting thousands of people each month in hospitals and in the community.

The simple acts of kindness volunteers provide, from setting up a regular lunch club to running chair-based exercises on hospital wards, help make communities stronger and relieve the pressure on overstretched public services.

The charity is also one of the largest retailers in the NHS, with its network of cafés and shops providing a valued haven in hospitals.

All our volunteers are supported by our skilled staff team, and together you make an extraordinary impact. Our real strength is our people who have made a positive choice to help others in their communities all over the country.

Royal Voluntary Service remains motivated by and committed to the charity’s unique philosophy of volunteering, giving the benefit of around 500,000 working days a year to communities up and down Britain.

Our vision – the kind of Britain we want to see

People across Britain are engaged in voluntary service – freely giving their time, talent and life experience to help tackle pressing challenges in diverse communities. Their service makes them, and Britain, healthier and happier.

Our mission – our role in achieving this vision

Inspiring and enabling people to give the gift of voluntary service to meet the needs of the day in their communities.

The needs of the day

  1. To inspire, mobilise and support others to enable voluntary action.
  2. Working with the NHS, wider health and care systems, and communities to minimise health inequality and social disadvantage, helping those affected to thrive.

Our values & culture

Spark brilliance - creating environments where we can be the best we can be

We are passionate about giving people the opportunity to ‘have a go.’ We encourage ideas and solutions and want to develop an environment where people can fulfil their potential.

Key words that we use to describe spark brilliance:

  • Recognise achievements
  • Enhance and improve
  • Embrace diversity
  • Encourage and inspire.

It means...

  • Sharing ideas in order to improve them
  • Not just joining, but joining in
  • Encouraging those around to be creative
  • Grasping opportunities for self-development
  • Sharing knowledge and skill
  • Learning something new to enhance your role
  • understanding the value and contribution of diversity.

Better when simple - make things easy, remove unnecessary barriers

We make things easy and do not put unnecessary barriers in the way of achieving our goals. We are clear and effective in our language and are consistent in our approach.

Key words that we use to describe better when simple:

  • Easy to access
  • Workable
  • Uncomplicated
  • Minimise ‘red tape’.

It means...

  • Working smarter not just harder
  • Clear and effective communication
  • Finding workable and straightforward solutions
  • Being consistent in approach
  • Being helpful and working collaboratively.

Stronger together – teamwork

We enjoy working, sharing and learning together, respecting the contributions of others. We understand our mission and values and are supportive of our colleagues, the charity, and our partners.

Key words that we use to describe stronger together:

  • Respectful
  • Promote team working
  • Inclusive
  • Collaborative.

It means...

  • Working collaboratively across the whole charity
  • Valuing the opinions of others and listening with an open mind
  • Understanding what we are trying to achieve and seeing how I contribute
  • Building relationships which are respectful and inclusive
  • Embracing and promoting our approach to equality, diversity and inclusion.

Step forward - deliver, take ownership, do the right thing

We deliver on our commitments. We take ownership and are determined to do the right thing. We demonstrate flexibility and resilience.

Key words that we use to describe step forward:

  • Prepared to intervene
  • Courage to be heard
  • Determination
  • Put your hand up.

It means...

  • Focusing efforts on getting the best possible outcomes for the charity
  • Showing courage and resilience to take on new challenges and embrace changes
  • Determined to grasp new opportunties
  • Intervening and taking ownership when something is going wrong
  • Taking a determined approach to delivering customer service
  • Calling out non inclusive or discriminatory behaviour.

Care & protect - care for each other, protect the charity

We share sense of duty to care for our volunteers, employees, and the people we support. We are responsible for protecting the reputation of the charity and safeguarding its future.

Key words that we use to describe care & protect:

  • Wellbeing
  • Trust and transparency
  • Safe and legal
  • Integrity.

It means...

  • Supporting a safe and fair environment for all
  • Caring for each other's wellbeing
  • Promoting and protecting what we do as a charity
  • Operating with integrity
  • Playing your part and being an ambassador for the charity
  • Embracing and supporting equality and diversity.